Quick looks at Sixth Region boys' basketball teams

Beth Haven

? Coach: Michael Stinnett (first year).

Last season: 10-18, lost to Valley 63-41 in district first round.

Player to watch: G Jordan Lovejoy (5 feet 11, So.). "Jordan is our point guard, and eventually he will be a good one," Stinnett said. "He's athletic and capable of making good plays. He runs the team pretty well."

Outlook: Beth Haven is in a major rebuilding year with a sixth-grader, three eighth-graders, a sophomore, a junior and two seniors. "This is a lot different for me," said Stinnett, who was a head coach at Iroquois two seasons ago. "We're trying to get better every day, and so far we have."

Fairdale

Coach: Gregg Longacre (ninth year).

Last season: 19-11, lost to Butler 70-64 in regional semifinal.

Players to watch: G Cory Thomas (6-2, Sr., 18.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg); G Caleb Longacre (6-2, Sr., 10 ppg., 4.5 apg., 3.5 rpg.). "Cory is one of the best scorers I've ever coached," Coach Longacre said. "He's nearing 1,000 points for his career. Caleb will run the team and we expect him to score more this season."

Outlook: Fairdale has two three-year starters at guard in Thomas and Caleb Longacre. "We're not big, but we're athletic and quick," Coach Longacre said. "Our biggest problems will be size (lack of) and defending the post."

Holy Cross

Coach: Mike Durham (eighth year).

Last season: 9-21, lost to Fairdale 87-56 in first round of district).

Players to watch: F Dominique Mack (6-1, Sr., 13,1 ppg); G Jack Schmitt (6-0, Sr., 13.2 ppg). "Mack is strong, athletic and goes to the basket well," Durham said. "Schmitt is a great shooter. Both worked on their basketball skills this summer."

Outlook: The Cougars won 20 of 23 games in the summer and will be more experienced than last season's team, which had no seniors and lost its first 14 games - seven by five or fewer points. "The biggest issue is, can we rebound?" Durham said. "We're bigger and stronger than last year. Everybody hit the weight room. Nalley and Stahl each grew a couple of inches, and Nalley put on 20 pounds."

Pleasure Ridge Park

? Coach: Dale Mabrey (33rd year).

Last season: 25-8, lost to Covington Holmes 65-60 in first round of Sweet 16.

Players to watch: F LaMontray Harris, right, (6-7, Sr., 13.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg); G Antonio McDaniels (5-10, Sr., 10.1 ppg, 2.3 apg). "Harris has separated himself from the pack," Mabrey said. "We can't stop him in practice. He has picked up a few pounds and a lot of muscle. McDaniels always has been one of the top point guards in the state."

Outlook: Mabrey says this team can be every bit as good as last season's regional champions. "We go deep with 9-10 players," Mabrey said. "Harris and McDaniels won't have to do it alone. Glass is a student of the game and will play a lot, Cranford is the best shooter and Stevenson had a solid preseason."

Valley

Coach: Andrew Bailey (sixth year).

Last season: 7-15, lost to PRP 91-47 in second round of district.

Player to watch: G-F Jacob Mills (6-2, Sr., 12 ppg, 5 rpg). "Jacob is a three-year starter who can create his own shot," Bailey said. "He is our best three-point shooter, but he's also a good all-around player who knows the game."

Outlook: Valley is in a tough district with PRP and Fairdale, and the Vikings don't have a lot of size. "We'll have to use our quickness and press to create turnovers," Bailey said. The Vikings open the season against Iroquois and PRP.

Butler

Coach: Rick Gibson (first year).

Last season: 24-8, lost to PRP in regional final 53-44.

Players to watch: F William Johnson (6-1, Jr., 16 ppg, 5 rpg); G Jeremiah Bell, right, (6-1, Jr., 15.5 ppg, 4 apg). Johnson improved his jump shooting over the summer. He's athletic and has a strong body, helping him develop into a good slasher to the basket. Bell is good in transition and is working hard to learn how to run a team.

Outlook: The Bears lack size, but are exceptionally quick and athletic. They must offset a lack of size with defensive pressure and by playing extremely hard. A strength is that the Bears are 9-11 deep and most of them can play several positions. "We'll go up and down the floor and use our speed to make the game faster," Gibson said.

DeSales

Coach: John Mingus (fifth year).

Last season: 16-14, lost to Iroquois 64-54 in first round of district).

Player to watch: G Nathan Roush (6-2, Sr., 15 ppg, 8 rpg, 3 apg). "Nathan is a three-year starter. He's strong and he can get in the lane," Mingus said. "He's been solid for us for three years. He's a leader on the football field and on the court.

Outlook: The Colts have everybody back from last season so they have experience in seven seniors, plus good chemistry and leadership. Breedlove gives the Colts a three-point threat. Schulman is a good defender.

Doss

Coach: K. C. Goodin (fourth year).

Last season: 19-11, lost to PRP 54-42 in first round of regional.

Player to watch: C -F Montrell Little (6-5, Sr., 15 ppg, 9 rpg). "Montrell's best asset is his will to win," Goodin said. "He doesn't care how many points he scores. He'll do anything to help his team win. He's young. He just turned 17 in September." Kentucky Wesleyan, Kentucky State and Georgetown College have shown an interest in him.

Outlook: It's uncertain when Sanford (a point guard) will join the team, but the Dragons already have nine players in rotation, including returning point guard Tay Weaver. "I really like my team," Goodin said. "If we stay together and play hard together we can be a good team. Any one of those nine players could start at any time."

Iroquois

Coach: Jeff Morrow (second year).

Last season: 17-14, lost to Doss 45-42 in second round of district.

Player to watch: G Devon Johnson (6-1, Sr., 17.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 3 apg). "Devon can score a number of ways," Morrow said. "He can create his own shot and he knows how to get to the free throw line. He could play for a strong Division II team or a low Division I school."

Oulook: The Raiders have 11 seniors and all but two players back from last season so Morrow expects this team to take a big step forward. Iroquois added a player who was in school last year, but did not play basketball. That's Forehand, who Morrow says "gives us an inside presence." Martin only played the first half of last season and he is the Raiders' best three-point shooter.

Western

? Coach: Terrence Moorman (second year).

Last season: 9-13, lost to Butler 62-44 in first round of district.

Player to watch: C Chris McGraw (6-7, Sr., 12 ppg, 6 rpg). McGraw didn't play football this year so "he's more focused on basketball than ever before," Moorman said. "He knows what a force he could be in the low post. If we can get the ball to him down there, he'll be hard to stop."

Outlook: The Cougars have four starters returning and have two of the top 15 players in the region in Humphrey and Bourland, according to Lee. "Nobody's picking us to do anything, but I definitely think we can be competitive," he said. "Humphrey is one of the best 3-point shooters in the region. Wampler provides experience and leadership. He started all 30 games."

Evangel

Coach: Joe Washington (fourth year).

Last season: 6-19, lost to Bullitt Central 54-33 in first round of district.

Player to watch: G-F Nat Gabbard (6-4, Jr., 14 ppg, 7 rpg) "Gabbard is so versatile and he isn't shy about contact," Washington said. "He can take the ball to the basket."

Outlook: "I like this team because of its youthfulness." Washington said. "We will be much quicker this year." Evangel has one senior, one junior, seven sophomores, two freshmen and two eighth-graders. "Being so young, I'm excited about this bunch," he said. "The enthusiasm is there."

Moore

? Coach: Matthew Lemon (first year).

Last season: 23-8, lost to Fairdale 74-73 in overtime in first round of regional.

Player to watch: F Trey Scott (6-1, Sr., 7 ppg). "He's doing his best to be a great leader," Lemon said. "He's tremendously skilled, good shooter and always plays hard. He takes very few plays off."

Outlook: Losing Jamon Sanford hurt, but Lemon is high on Keontee Smith, who will replace Sanford at point guard. "I can see our talent and where we could be, but we'll be in a learning process early," Lemon said.

North Bullitt

Coach: Dick Briggs (first year).

Last season: 12-17, lost to Southern 54-31 in first round of district.

Outlook: Briggs, who just became head coach five weeks ago, hasn't inherited much size but he says the Eagles have decent shooters. "Hopefully, we can be better than a .500 team if we play smart, cut down on our turnovers and play good defense," he said. "We just have to learn to play hard."

Southern

Coach: Shedrick Jones Jr. (second year).

Last season: 14-17, lost to Bullitt 77-47 in first round of district.

Players to watch: G John Marshall (6-0, Sr., 6 ppg, 3 apg); G-F Josh Burdick (6-2, Sr., 5 ppg). Marshall quarterbacked the football team and is the point guard in basketball. "He's a tough kid who likes contact," Jones said. "Burdick shoots it pretty well and is just coming into his own."

Outlook: The Trojans are young and inexperienced, but Jones says they play hard and are coachable. "That's all I'm asking for," he said. "By February, I hope we can make a run at the district title."

Bullitt East

Coach: Bob Blackburn (1st year, second term).

Last season: 29-5, lost to PRP 40-38 in regional semifinal).

Player to watch: G Rhett Troutman (5-11, Sr., 4 ppg). "It's hard to say who is our best player, but Rhett probably is because of his overall game. He does everything well and this is his third year on the varsity," Blackburn said.

Outlook: The Chargers graduated all five starters from last season, but Blackburn says his team has "a lot of potential." He has two big men to work with in Bacon and Farris. "Bacon is crafty around the basket and Farris is a physical player, an element we didn't have last season," Blackburn said. "We still have a long road ahead of us."

Fern Creek

Coach: James Schooler (first year).

Last season: 6-26, lost to Butler 85-61 in first round of regional.

Player to watch: F Joe Jackson (6-6, Sr., 12 ppg, 4.8 rpg). "Joe is multi-talented and can play four positions," Schooler said. "His willingness to be coachable and his enthusiasm are his other strengths. He is our top performer."

Outlook: Schooler is eager to see if the organized chaos on the court he's brought over from Ballard will work in the Sixth Region. The Tigers are aggressive and have good quickness. They plan to play an up-tempo game, but Schooler wonders if his team can score in half-court situations. "I like these kids," he said. "They're fun to coach. Jones is very talented. He will be our next Joe Jackson."

Jeffersontown

? Coach: Clay Moody (third season).

Last season: 12-15, lost to Fern Creek 91-84 in first round of district.

Players to watch:: G Brandon Marshall (6-1, Sr., 11 ppg); F Brandon Johnson (6-3, Sr., 11 ppg); G Daniel Williams, left, (5-11 Sr.). All three players had big scoring games last season. Marshall popped up 26 points against Ballard, Williams hit for 26 against Bullitt East, and Johnson made all nine of his 3-pointers in a 30-point outburst against Southern.

Outlook: "We have a bunch of seniors who are hungry (to win)," Moody said. "We're not a big team, but we are balanced offensively. We have several guys who can step up and have a good game on different nights. I think we can be competitive."

Whitefield Academy

Coach: Chad Carr (sixth year).

Last season: 9-20, lost to Bullitt East 78-41 in first round of district.

Player to watch: G Andrew Patterson (6-1, Jr., 12.2 ppg, 5.5 apg). Patterson can hit the three-point shot, but "the best things about him are his knowledge of the game, his court awareness and his work ethic," Carr said. "He's one of the hardest workers I've had."

Outlook: Whitefield returns four starters from last season, including its top two scorers in Patterson and Adkisson. A strong class of sophomores, headed by Frankie Flores, should provide depth off the bench. "We anticipate making a run for the 'All-A' regional title," Carr said. "We're shooting for a 20-win season."

- Bob White

ADVERTISEMENT

Most Popular

Most Commented

More Headlines

Most Viewed

Photo Galleries

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Email this article

Quick looks at Sixth Region boys' basketball teams

We recap teams' results from last season, offer an outlook on what's to come, and focus on players to watch.